I fancy doing this but wont the relay only switch to charge the leisure battery when the engine is running? The relay is wired to ensure that when the engine is not running the circuit is closed so the vehicle battery will not be depleted. A solution would be welcomed ?????
My preferred system is described at http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/my-t2-twin-battery-system-the-best-way.16468/
i think it was about £120 with the controller i have painted the frame since so it doesnt show so much. with a 100a/h battery running a compresser fridge,lights,water,radio,propex i have done 5days in September and it was ok
I run every thing apart from the engine/light/wipers etc off the leasure so dont find the engine battery going flat is a propelm If i do want to give it a charge i just put a single jumplead between the too batterys + when on hook up and the charger does both. My van i wanted it as simple in life as posable and didnot want to be messing with switches etc
Been considering a ctek just because I like the fact that you can get it to run the 12v stuff when camped at a site as well as it topping up the battery. I've got a 110ah battery, am I going to need the 5 or the 7?
The difference between the 5 and 7 and indeed any of the models is a couple of extra features, the ability to charge dead batteries and most importantly in you case speed of charge. The 7 will charge the battery quicker than the 5 so the larger the battery you have the higher the number the quicker the battery will charge up.
Depends on which split relay you get. Mine is an intelligent one so it doesn't work off the alternator, it just senses the current from the battery, ie the battery is full and then switches so the current passed across to the leisure and charges that. It a brocott one, I'll try and find the link.
This one http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=181086759632&index=5&nav=SEARCH&nid=35825901775
That looks awesome. Really tidy install :thumbs: I might look into that. Do you remember where you got it from?
We have a 7, which should be going in shortly. The main reason we chose it was to power the 12v fridge when on hook-up.
At the moment i have replacedthe 110v transformer for my US westy with a 240v UK spec model, so i can run my 12v fridge on hook up, does anyone know if any of the cteks could do that job at the same time as charging my batteries, or would i run both together?? i know my fridge is supposed to pull 5.4amps when its running, so it wouldnt leave much for the batteries ( the sticker is still on the side of the fridge with running info)
this is the one i have but i got it on ebay same company but cheeper http://www.lensunhk.com/waterproof-80w-solar-kit-80w-solar-panel10a-regulatorcable-p-270.html
So how are you planning to wire the C-Tek to the leisure battery and 12 volt system? Is it best to run the C-Tek to the leisure battery 1st and then run a separate cable the 12 volt system from the battery, then have the C-Tek set on charge, so it keeps the leisure battery topped up. Or, run a cable from the C-Tek to a fuse box and connect the leisure battery to the same terminals with connection to the 12 volt system on the other side of the fuse box. Surely the second way means you could run the C-Tek on charge to charge the leisure battery or on 'supply' so your 12 volt system will run directly from the C-Tek rather than the battery. Or does this amount to the same thing? With the C-Tek wired in should you aim to charge the leisure battery or run the 12 volt system directly? Does have the C-Tek on charge or supply make any difference to either?
thats what i figured after reading the tech spec on the c tek, i just wanted to make sure. i think i have enough room for another RCD in the box, so i could wire the ctek in that way then run the cables in to the engine bay. simples!! a job for the future i think, leave things alone while they are working
The thinking behind it is when I put the old girl away in the winter I can swap the plugs over and give the main battery a boost so its fresh for when she comes out again. Not a requirement but more a nice to have & I may as well get it in whilst fitting the leisure circuit & then the ctek can be hidden away.
I'm well miffed, as this "latest" smart charger has now failed after just 17 months Now I need to source another smart charger, that's 4 wrecked in about 13 years...... Anyone have any experience of a smart charger which will take years of permanent use??
I did like Robo but got two of these, one for main and leisure battery, spent the same sort of money and you just plug the charger into the end of the led traffic light bit. Ctek mxs5 is what I went for in the end, great charger
